Veteran combat sports star and television personality Choi Hong‑man made a rare and candid confession in a recently released preview of the talk show You Quiz on the Block.
The segment, titled “The Returned ‘Techno Goliath’ Choi Hong‑man—Why He Disappeared & His New Life,” revealed the hidden reasons behind his sudden withdrawal from the spotlight at the peak of his career.
Known as the “Techno Goliath,” Choi Hong‑man rose to fame in the world of ssireum (Korean traditional wrestling) before transitioning to K‑1, where his debut victory earned him massive earnings and public attention. At the height of his career around 2008, Choi Hong‑man suddenly vanished from competition—a decision he now says was triggered by a critical health discovery.
“I went for a health check and found a tumour in my brain,” he said, referring to the fight with Badr Hari, where he withdrew from the overtime round because of anxiety. “From that point, the wounds from people started to build up.”
He also opened up about his mother’s grave illness during that time: “My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, metastasised and was in critical condition. She was everything to me—my only supporter.” Choi Hong‑man turned emotional as he remembered her.
Choi Hong‑man’s openness marks a departure from his typically towering, unbreakable public image. On the show, he also touched on his current personal life and the pressure of public expectation: “It seems people want to see my future children. I hear that a lot.”
When asked about dating, he replied: “I want to try. Since so many people ask about my second generation.”
Choi Hong‑man’s full episode of You Quiz on the Block airs November 5 at 8:45 p.m. on tvN.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
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